Deceitful: A Pokemon Transformation

Chapter 15: Opening Up

Uxie led Gallade, the others, and myself to a large, private coliseum like room for us to train in.
"Wow! This is perfect," exclaimed Gallade.
Uxie smiled, "I'm glad you like it. Just try not to blow it up okay?"
A few of us laughed.
"No promises," joked Weavile.
She chuckled and left the room.
"Good luck."
"Alright Damian..."
I focused my attention to Gallade.
"If we're gonna make you mad as Hell, we'll have to do whatever it takes. You ready?"
I tensed up.
"I was ready a week ago! Lets do this!" I said with pure enthusiasm.
"Good. This is gonna get intense now. So lose that grin. First things first. I want you to close your eyes, and think of what happened when Staraptor was on the ground. Passed out. Team Plasma is trying to take her! You have to stop them!" he started to yell.
I closed my eyes and growled at the thought.
"Don't just think of it! Use words to say how you feel! Yell at them!"
"Leave her alone! Leave Staraptor alone right now! I mean it!" I screamed, imagining the scene vividly in my mind.
"Not good enough! Do want to save her or not! You'll never save her like that!"
I growled more out of frustration than anger.
The image of Zoroark and all the evil Pokemon surrounding me appeared.
"Come on! Don't be so pathetic! Stop them from hurting her!" screamed Gallade.
I was panting from so much anger.
"Get away from here you monster!" I screamed.
I was trying to be as angry as possible, but it just wasn't the same as actually being there.
I snarled and gave up.
"Gallade! I-I can't do it! Its not actually happening... She's right there! In perfect sh-"
"No! Her wing is broken! Because of them she'll never be the same! She will never fly again! And it was all because you failed to help her in the first place!" screamed Gallade.
I snarled.
"SHUT UP!" I screamed furiously, tossing myself into the air and landing a kick to Gallade's cheek.
He chuckled and wiped his cheek with his right arm.
I calmed down and felt an immediate sympathy.
"Sorry..." I moaned.
"No! Don't be sorry for me! Be sorry for Staraptor!"
"GALLADE! Stop it right now! This is only going to harm him more than help him!" shouted Staraptor.
"This is training for him. I understand your concern Staraptor, but he has to learn this power. You saw the kick he just hit me with. That actually hurt. Maybe you can help me Star. He needs to hear your voice too."
"No... I-I can't... He's... This just doesn't seem right. I'm... I'm gonna leave. This is too much for me Gallade. I... I can't watch this..." she winced.
"Please Staraptor? I'll be fine, I promise. I wanna do whatever it takes to learn how to control that power," I begged.
Staraptor stared at me with wide eyes.
"Please..." I begged.
She didn't look assured at all about it.
"I just... I don't think I can-"
"Please," I interrupted her.
She scowled.
"I... I'll try. But if I feel like I can't bear it anymore, I'm leaving," she demanded.
I grinned, "Thanks."
"Star, are you gonna help me out?" asked Gallade.
"I guess I have to..." she groaned.
"Okay then. Did I tell you to stop! Keep going Damian!" yelled Gallade.
I nodded and closed my eyes again.
Staraptor began to speak, "Damian... I don't know how long I can carry on. Please... You have to run. Don't let them catch you."
"No! I won't leave you!" I screamed.
"You have to! If they catch you... They will hold you in a cage! Never let you out! No one will be able to save you!"
"I can't let them hurt you!" I screamed.
My temper was rising, but I only felt more sorrow than anger.
I sighed.
"I... I can't... Its too sad. I need something to make me mad..."
"Hmm... Alright. New plan. I want you to imagine a lot so listen up. First off, think of Blaziken. What Team Plasma is doing to him. Think of Lewis' betrayal, how angry he made you. Think of the people who made you into a Pokemon."
"Think of how my old team treated you and me. Remember when they beat me senseless? Picked on you? Poured your food over your head? Remember?" Swellow added.
All at once, I was imagining the events they described.
Blaziken's abduction affecting my temper the most.
I could feel a sudden pulse of energy flow through my body.
"Keep going! You'll never save anyone at this rate! Don't be so pathetic!" insulted Gallade.
"I swear I will destroy all of you for taking Blaziken from me!" I screamed to the heavens.
I screamed as my head began to throb and my anger couldn't seem to get any worse.
"Raaaaaaaagh!" I yelled.
I opened my eyes, panting from exhaustion.
Everyone in the room was awestruck.
"Oh my gosh. Was that... just from Damian?" asked Ampharos.
I was out of breath.
"Don't stop just yet! You don't stop until you can fire an aura sphere at me!" yelled Gallade.
"But... I... Ergh... I'm worn out..." I moaned.
"We don't stop until I say so! Now close your eyes and get mad as hell!" shouted Gallade.
I gasped for air, then closed my eyes again.
I was ready to collapse, but I couldn't stop now.
"Stop this now!" Uxie could be heard yelling.
"Hunh?" I fumbled.
I lost focus and set my gaze to Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit, each floating toward us.
"What?" replied Gallade.
"This is ridiculous! Do you realize that by forcing his anger, it will only lead to permanent damage!?" snapped Azelf.
"His temper will not only last during training, but during his life outside of training. The slightest nuisance could cause an outburst,"Mesprit added calmly.
"So like... Permanent high temper. All the time?" Gallade asked dumbly.
"Exactly," Uxie said, flying to my side and resting her stumped hands on my shoulders.
"This is highly dangerous. He doesn't need to force his anger to repeat his actions while he was protecting Staraptor. There is a much easier and beneficial way to teach Damian his true power," Azelf stated.
"And that would be...?" Gallade asked with annoyance in his tone.
"Its simple really. If you let us do something really quick, we can show you how he should learn his powers," answered Uxie from behind me.
Gallade stepped back.
"Very well... But if this technique doesn't work...?" Gallade started.
"It WILL work. No doubt about it. And if you have a problem with it please say so now," ordered Azelf.
Gallade grumbled something under his breath.
"Good. I'm glad we understand each other. Now if you'll excuse us..."
Both Mesprit and Azelf approached me, Uxie flying to her sisters' sides.
"Damian... In order for us to do this, you must be unconscious. Are you ready?" asked Azelf.
"Yes... But what're you gonna do?"
"It is difficult to form a proper explanation. This will not harm you. I promise," replied Mesprit.
"Okay then... I'm ready when you are."
"Here goes nothing," sighed Uxie.
It wasn't long before I instantly passed out.
My vision quickly turning to darkness.
The muffled sound of a few of my Pokemon panicking.
All contact with the real world was gone.
Suddenly, I found myself standing in a familiar environment.
I was in the forest where Staraptor had nearly passed out, but the scene hadn't occurred yet.
I shrieked as a black, white, and grey figure slammed face first into the ground.
A blue and black Riolu falling off of her back and slamming into a tree.
I could feel my legs trembling at the sight.
"St-Staraptor," the Riolu croaked.
"Damian... I-I... I dunno what they'll... do to me... Just p-promise me you'll... stay strong no matter... w-what... okay?" the Staraptor muttered between gasps of air.
The Riolu began to cry.
"No... They... They're not gonna get you! I won't let them, just please! Get up! Get up... Get... Up..." the Riolu sobbed
The ground shook as the assailants landed.
"Hello Riolu. Ready to come back with us?" one of the Pokemon sneered.
"Damian... R-run..." the Staraptor slowly began to fade away.
"No... I'm not leaving you!" my alternate self cried.
Suddenly, the Riolu was lifted off his feet by the claws of a Gliscor.
"No... Damian..." Staraptor collapsed with a tear running down her face.
"No..." he gasped for air.
"You got no chance kid. You're coming with us," said the Gliscor.
"No... I'm not going anywhere..." the Riolu growled.
The Riolu formed a powerful looking aura around himself. A crushing wind accompanying the powerful rage.
"What're you gonna do then?"
With a fire in his eyes, he growled like a wild animal, became surrounded by a pulsing blue energy, and released his power, causing Gliscor to lose his grip.
The Riolu hit the ground and stared down his opponents.
"Kid, make this easier for yourself," scoffed the Gliscor.
In a flash he formed a blue ball of light into his paws, blasting Gliscor at an almost point blank range.
"Take him down boys!" yelled Golbat.
"Woah... Is that really me?" I asked, awestruck.
He scanned his opponents swiftly.
Considering how they outnumbered him greatly, he didn't seem to have a chance.
Gliscor was first to fly towards with his clamps opened to strike.
He ducked down and kicked him in the chest while falling onto his back to both evade and perform a counter attack.
Gliscor grunted in pain.
Next was Houndoom rushing towards him, the Houndoom's whole body surrounded by an aura of fire.
He stood to his feet, and jumped gracefully over him, then Riolu pounced his feet into Houndoom's back.
He landed on his feet gracefully, whirled around, and socked him in the face with his right paw.
He then whirled his whole body around and struck with a devastating roundhouse kick.
Riolu was struck by an unexpected thunderbolt, then was tackled and pinned down by Machamp.
He wriggled and squirmed for release.
"Good job guys!" congratulated the Zoroark.
I growled at the sight of the Zoroark's face, the one who used that nightmare attack on me.
Zoroark approached me with a claw to my chin.
"You put up a good fight kid... You've learned how to be a true Pokemon. Heh... That's a good thing."
The Riolu, not thinking clearly, spat in Zoroark's face.
He didn't even flinch, just scratched Riolu across the cheek.
"Hey Zoroark? You should use nightmare on em!" suggested Charizard.
Zoroark grinned at his partner, then stared at the alternate me.
"Good idea."
Zoroark placed his palm to my alternate self's forehead, his eyes began to glow, and Damian was unconscious.
"Do you notice your potential?" asked Azelf from the heavens.
"I think so..." I started.
"Watch again..." ordered Uxie.
The scene was rewinded and paused like a movie to the scene where I first begin to emanate the powerful aura and the fire in my eyes at the time.
"Look closely," said Mesprit.
I moved closer to the frozen Riolu before me.
I wasn't sure what they were getting at.
"I don't get it..." I mumbled.
"That is because the answer is not visible. You have to think. What caused you to release this anger and power you have had stored inside?" asked Mesprit.
"I guess just knowing that if they kidnap Staraptor I wouldn't be able to live with myself."
"No..."
"What does this have to do with training?!" I whined.
"Relax... We are going to put you into this situation now. Try and repeat what you did before."
The scene changed to Staraptor behind me, injured badly.
The Gliscor had his clamp around my neck.
I squirmed for release.
Forgetting what I did before, I simply attacked with an upwards punch to his chest, causing Gliscor to drop me.
The pain felt real as I struck the ground and his clamps scraped across my collar.
Barely landing on my feet, I took a second to recuperate.
Houndoom was charging for me, surrounded by an emanation of flame.
I sidestepped in the knick of time to avoid his attack.
Houndoom skid across the ground and turned to face me.
Gliscor circled around to my direction, his scissor-like clamps opened.
Houndoom then took advantage to attack simultaneously.
I ducked to avoid Gliscor, then jumped to the left as Houndoom nearly made contact.
I could feel a flash of intense heat brush across my fur as I moved.
Out of nowhere, Golbat and Machamp jumped into the action.
It was weird.
Before, it just felt like instinct, but now... I'm not sure what this training is going to do for me exactly, but I'll find out eventually.
"Gotcha now!" one of the thugs yelled.
Machamp threw himself outward to tackle me.
I closed my eyes in fear, put my arm out, my paw outward, and hoped for the best.
In an instantaneous second of unbelievable power, I could feel a shockwave of energy flow from body into my right paw, slightly fatiguing me.
I gasped in amazement at the result.
Machamp was down for the count, no questions asked.
"Woah... How did I do that?" I asked, completely awe struck.
"Its not over yet runt!" screeched the Golbat charging me full speed, both of his wings glowing white.
I snapped back into reality and tried to avoid the aerial ace attack, but sadly failed as I was slashed in a vertical line up my forearm.
I winced as the attack landed and clenched my left paw over my wound as blood seeped from it.
The stinging pain caused me to cringe, but I had to shake it off.
Immediately after that strike, I was prepared to take on a huge fireball coming straight for me.
Thinking I could take on anything after the attack on Machamp, I let go of my right arm, put both of my arms outward, and planted my feet firmly into the ground.
Once the blast was in striking distance, I gasped as the entire attack was deflected by an invisible force field.
The flame spread apart in every direction, soon fading into mere cinders and smoke.
I chuckled haughtily at this sudden change of events.
But my victory laugh was shortly abrubted as I was I struck in the head by one of the gang.
The impact brought me face first into the ground, and had enough force to cause my ears to ring.
"Oww... Man..." I winced after regaining the strength to speak.
As I feebly attempted to stand, I was slammed into the ground once again by Zoroark.
"Idiots! Weaklings! Do I seriously have to do everything myself! You can't even take on a scrawny Riolu, let alone a Riolu who isn't even an actual Pokemon!" he shouted while skidding my body into the dirt beneath me as his temper rose.
I winced as the stinging pain escalated from my arm to my entire body.
"Now... Here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna take you back with me and my trainer. You're gonna have some fun in the lab. Probly have your eyes removed, who knows? Heh. Maybe we could take your little friend over there too..." Zoroark
My eyes shot opened as he mentioned Staraptor.
I growled furiously as I struggled to get up against his crushing grip at my throat.
"Still got some fight in ya after all hunh? Alright... Lets see whatcha got ya little hatchling."
Zoroark threw me backward, and I managed to land on my feet, my first action was to catch my breath.
"Go on... I'll give ya a free hit. Not that it'll even matter. Just not my face okay? Thanks, I ap-"
"Raaaagh! Shut up you cocky bastard!" I screamed in pure rage as I charged him.
Zoroark sneered as I ran toward him.
Suddenly, my speed increased substantially, the energy flowing from my body unbelievable.
At almost light speed, I was in front of him.
I brought my arm back, prepared for a hook to his gut, but instead I received a different result.
An energy so powerful, of almost impossible proportions was fired from my right paw.
Zoroark was sent flying back and slammed back first in pain.
He winced as he attempted to stand.
My only response, "Whoa..."
My anger was soon replaced with awe, and awe was replaced with laughter.
The scene faded and I was in the stadium once again with everyone keeping their eyes closed.
I yawned as I lifted myself off the ground.
"Open your eyes now, everyone," said Uxie with a grin.
The three flew to my viewpoint each grinning.
"Quite the dream I had last night," I joked.
"That was awesome! I can't believe you did an aura sphere to that guy at point blank range!" exclaimed Weavile.
"That was an aura sphere?" I asked dumbly.
"He actually used Extremespeed first, then used aura sphere," explained Gallade.
Staraptor approached me directly and frowned.
"You okay? They said you'd be feeling real pain from that..." Staraptor muttered.
I smiled at her and hugged her.
"I'm fine. Just a scratch that's... All?" I flustered, noticing I was free of any scars.
"It was a simulation, Damian. Any injuries you faced are gone," said Mesprit.
"Ohh... So, was that really-y'know? Me? Doing all that stuff?" I asked.
They all appeared uneasy.
"Yes and no. That 'stuff' you did was your doing. The force palm and the reflect shield were our doing..." Uxie stopped as though in midsentence.
I awaited a continuation for what felt like forever.
"And the aura sphere too right?" I asked.
Uxie and Azelf exchanged glances.
"No... That was your determination to not lose the battle," replied Mesprit.
"Not just that! You hated Zoroark so much that you just had to go ballistic on him!" Uxie exclaimed.
There was a short pause between us.
"So... I did that Extremespeed, aura sphere combo myself? Without any help? And it was because of my anger?" I asked, trying to clarify the situation.
"Not your anger. But your determination. You didn't fight because you were angry it was-" Azelf started.
"Because I had a reason for fighting..." I muttered.
"Exactly. So making you mad as heck won't do anything. You just need to have something to fight for."
Gallade scoffed, "I could've told him that! How's that any different than-"
"Silence!" yelled Mesprit, a weak shockwave flowing in the room.
Gallade mumbled something under his breath.
"Sorry... My apologies," muttered Mesprit.
"No... It's my fault. I'm just being stubborn. I've never had anyone really question my training before. I don't mean anything by it if I'm questioning yours."
They all smiled at Gallade's sudden change of heart.
"It's fine. And we don't mean to make it seem like we're proving you wrong or anything. We just don't want him living the rest of his life, angry. So now that that's settled, the three of us should get back to your friends in the lab," said Azelf.
"Thanks. Tell me what to do, and I can keep training with Damian," said Gallade.
"Azelf and Mesprit, go ahead, kay? I'll catch up with ya in a second. That goes for all of you as well." said Uxie.
She then looked at Gallade.
When Azelf and Mesprit were gone, as well as the team, she said, "Okay. I'm just gonna tell you what to do to train him. Now, Riolu, you should eat up. You're probably famished from all that."
"Nah. I'm full of energy! Lets keep training!" I laughed hopping up and down like an overexcited child on Christmas day.
"You should eat something, trust me. When you come back you won't be eating for another six hours."
'SIX HOURS?! Whatever training this is, it sounds intense.'
"Well... Alright then," I shrugged.
"Yeah, we'll be ready in a second," said Uxie.
I shrugged my shoulders and simply made my way to the stadiums only door.
As I exited the coliseum I nearly jumped out of my fur.
"Happy Birthday, Damian!" the whole orphanage seemed to yell.
Everyone was cheering and clapping as I entered the cafeteria.
I was laughing to myself, completely surprised at the party going on.
It wasn't set up like a normal birthday party with balloons and confetti.
Ice sculptures, candles, and other formal decorations accompanied the cafeteria.
And it seemed as though everyone was here.
Tay approached me and handed me a cone hat from her mouth.
"Put it on!" she said ecstatically.
I continued my laughing fit as I put the hat on.
Gallade and Uxie were soon joining the group of Pokemon covering the cafeteria.
"Well...?" asked Uxie.
"You guys threw a birthday party for me? Gosh... I-I dunno what to say..."
"My sisters and I figured you deserved it, as well as many others in the orphanage," explained Mesprit.
"You've gone through a lot, Damian. It's only right that you get a day off from it all."
I felt a warm happiness inside of me as Azelf said that.
"How'd you set all this up so quickly?" I asked.
"Easy. We had to knock you unconscious for two hours," replied Uxie.
"Training was just an excuse to give everyone time to set everything up," added Azelf.
I set my gaze to Staraptor, Weavile, Ampharos, Treecko, and Swellow all chuckling at my reaction.
"Guys... I dunno what to say..." I muttered, my eyes welling with tears of happiness.
They all went in for a group hug.
I lunged forward and joined them.
"Thank you... So much..." I broke the hug very shortly.
"Thanks everyone!" I yelled.
There was a quiet cheering from a few kids.
I looked around as though something was missing, and then it hit me.
"Hey! Where's Floatzel?" I asked.
"He's with Absol-"
Staraptor whacked Weavile with her wing and cursed him.
I pretended I didn't hear that.
"He's just gone out for something really quick," replied Uxie.
"Oh, okay," I said simply.
Tay jumped into the conversation.
"Cone on, Damian! Open some presents!"
"Presents?" I asked.
I followed Tay to a small mountain of gifts, all wrapped in gift paper.
How they got the gift paper, I don't know.
"Here! Open this one first!" Tay said excitedly.
Tay handed me a thin, rectangular gift.
I held it in my paws, then stared at it, wondering how to open it.
I used the friction of my paws against the thin paper to tear the gift wrap apart.
The gift was soon revealed.
It was a painting of me and Tay, standing side by side in a grassy field, the sky a bright blue with puffy white clouds to lighten the scene.
"Aww... Thanks Tay," I said with a grin, holding my arms out for a friendly hug.
She seemed uneasy as she saw me, but she hastily accepted.
When we were apart, she asked, "You like it?"
"I love it! Its... Wait a second... What's that in the background?" I asked, referring to a human-like figure in the distance.
"That's you silly. As a human."
I got a closer look at the figure, and I was actually surprised to see that it was me, and a very accurate image of me at that.
"How'd you do this?" I asked, completely awestruck.
"Look at the back," said Tay.
I flipped the easel around and my jaw dropped as I saw the photo that was in my bedroom in a frame on the wall.
I grasped the photograph in amazement.
"How did you...?"
"I flew to your house. She wanted to draw something with your human picture on it, so I went to your room and took the first picture I could find," replied Swellow.
The tears of joy were now trickling down my face.
"Hey... You okay, Damian?" asked Tay.
I covered my eyes to hide the tears.
"Thank you... So much..." I cried softly.
"No problem, Damian. You deserve it," said Swellow.
I put down both the photograph and painting down on the ground and smiled wide at everyone the room.
Chuckling, I said, "Man, I love you guys."
"We love you too," replied Staraptor.
"Come on! Enough talk, open your next gift!" exclaimed Weavile.
"Not just yet!" Absol's voice could be heard from the crowd.
I looked to see Absol and Floatzel approach through the huge crowd of Pokemon.
But it wasn't them my eyes focused on.
It was who was following them.
"MOM!? DAD!?" I screamed at the top of my lungs.